Israel Returns Three Egyptian Pows

Israel has returned three wounded Egyptian prisoners of war who are in need of medical attention, it was reported here today. The return was confirmed by the international Red Cross committee in Geneva. Their release was seen as a gesture by which Israel hoped to persuade Egypt and Syria to free Israeli POWs come of whom have spent 18-24 months in jail.

There are presently 11 Israelis being held in Egypt and three Israeli pilots in Syria. Israel holds 71 Egyptian POWs, 40 Syrians and one Jordanian. Israel has gone through foreign channels in efforts to secure the release of Eyal Achikar, an Israeli pilot who was seriously injured when his plane was shut down over Egypt on June 30, 1970. He has since been hospitalized in Egypt.